Fire-alarm signaling apparatus.



Patented Nov. 4`, |902.

n J. HAMER. FIRE ALARM SIGNALING APPARATUS.

(Application med Nov. i1. 1901.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-SheetA 2.

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` the skin at the point where the mechanism i UNITED ySTATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HAMER, OF BUFFALO, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT E.ERDMAN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FIRE-ALARM SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letterslfatent No. 712,525, dated November4, 1902. Application led November 11. 1901. Serial No. 81,921. (Noinodel.)

T0 @ZZ whmn it may concer-7e.-

Be it known that I, JOHN HAMER, a citizen of the United States, residingat-BuEalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Alarm SignalingApparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of tire-` alarm signaling apparatuswhich are provided with mechanism for engaging and locking the arm ofthe party sounding the alarm to detain such party until the arrival ofthe iremen or such other persons having authority and means to releasethe party so detained.

The object of this invention is to produce an eflicient fire-alarmsignaling apparatus of this character whichis reliable inaction, simpleand durable in construction, and which will quickly and positivelyengage the Wrist of the party operating the apparatus with but littlekinconvenience and Without in the slightest injuring or even causingabrasionof engages the signaler.

The invention consists of the combination of elements or parts, aswillbe hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of afire-alarm box provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a centralvertical section ot' the same. Fig. `3 is a vertical section taken online 3 3, Fig.2, looking toward the left. Fig. 4 is a section similar toFig. 3, showing the parts of t-hedetain# ing mechanism in a dierentposition. Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 3,showing a differentposition of theparts. Fig. 6 is ahorizontal section taken on line 6 6,Fig. 3. Fig. 7iis a similar section taken on line 7 7, Fig.

4. Fig. 8 is a detached rear elevation of the locking-block. Fig. 9 isavertical section taken on line 9 9, Fig." S; Fig.` 10' is an en-flarged vertical section taken on line l0 10, Fig. 9, looking towardtheright.

4tie or no inconvenience.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like 5o letters of reference referto like parts in the `several figures.

The letter A represents the box or casing, having a vertical wall orpartition'B arranged therein, between which and the rear wall the usualsignaling apparatus B' is confined. A lever C is pivotally attached tothe rear Wall and extends forward-through an elongated opening c,against theupper end of which the said lever is normally held. The leverC 6o is connected to the signaling mechanism B' by a rod O'; but it ismanifest that any other suitable connection may be employed. It is`therefore evident that on lowering the lever the signaling apparatus isoperated and the alarm given to any distant point having connectiontherewith.

The lever B' is operated by inserting the `hand through a hand-hole D,formedin the front wall of the box, the lower edge of the 7o hand-hole,in, addition to a buffing-block E, acting as a support for the arm whenretained by the mechanism. This buiiing-blockis secured to the innerside of the front wall with its upper face preferably covered withrubber or like material and arranged even with the lower edge of thehand-hole.

F designates vertical guide-bars located on either side of the hand-holeand having their lower ends secured to the ends of the buiing- 8o blockE'and their upper ends to the front wall by bolts or in any othersuitable manner. Arranged to move verticallyin the said guidebars is alocking member orblock G, which has a depression or cavity g arranged inits 8 5 under side'and which may be lined with soft rubber or padded inany desired manner to leave the cavity of proper size to grasp the wristand lock the arm of the signaler without causing the slightest injuryand with lit- 9o It is also more or less yielding to aocommodateitselfto the size of the signalers wrist. The under side of the locking-blockon either side of the cavity vided at its lower corners with lateralextensions g2 for a purpose to be hereinafter disclosed.

Arranged parallel with the upper face of the locking-block G and locatedabove the same is a guide-block H, provided with apertures h, in whichguide-rods I slide, said rods extending upwardly from the lockingbloekin or to which they are secured. Surrounding these guide-rods are spiralsprings J, which bear with one end against the under side of theguide-block H and with their other ends against the upper face ofthelocking-block G, serving to force the latter downward as soon asreleased,which is done simultaneously with the sounding of the alarm.

The locking-block is heldnormally in an elevated position against thepressure of the springs J, and it has an eye K, which is engaged in ahook L, pivoted to the front wall of the box, preferably between the twosprings and above the locking-block. This hook has a rearward extensionZ, to which one end of a cord or chain M is secured, which passesover'pulleys N, secured to the top of the box, and is secured with itsother end to the lever B', whereby the signaling apparatus is operblockstrikes the buffer-block E swing in and vfaces ofthe same.

engage the lateral extensions g2,tl1us preventing the locking-block frombeing elevated. To assure quick action of the swinging arms, springs Pare made to bear against. the outer These swinging arms are eachprovided with an inwardly-projecting extension O', which have the outerend enlarged and preferably concaved, as at 0, and against theseconcaved ends the releasing mechanism is designed to operate, as willpresently appear.

For convenience in disengaging the swinging arms frointhe lateralextensions on the locking-block I provide the releasing mechanism R,which consists of a spindle S, held in the locking-block and extendingthrough the rear face of the same, said spindle having a handle s at itsrear end and a crosspiece s' between the handle and the rear face of thelocking-block. Journaled in the ends of the cross-piece s arefriction-rollers s2 for a purpose to be presently disclosed. Surroundingthe spindle S and confined loetween the cross-piece thereof and thelockingblock is a spiral spring T, one end thereof being secured in thelocking-block and its other end bearing against a pin t, projecting fromthe cross-piece. This spring serves to keep the cross-piece s in theposition shown in Fig. 8, causing the same to bear against a stop V,projecting from the rear face of the 1ocking-block,in which position itis normally held.

A door U is provided which is to be opened by a reman or any otherauthorized person, and through the door-.opening such authorized personmaydisengage the swingingarms from the lateral extension on thelocking-block by turning the spindle S, which brings the cross-pieceformedthereon into a substantially horizontal position, which swings thesaid swinging arms outwardly,after which the locking-block may beelevated and attached to the hook L,whieh places the device in conditionfor the sounding of another alarm. Thus it is apparent that any personwho illegally tampers with the fire-alarm will bevdetained until anauthorized person releases him, and if the party so sounding` said alarmproves to have illegally tampered with the same he may be punishedaccording to law.

It is to be understood that various changes in form, proportion, andminor details of construction can be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of myinvention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl l. The combinationwith an alarm signaling-box having the usual signaling apparatus and ahand-hole in an exterior wall, of a locking device having operativeconnection with the' signaling apparatus and being caused to operate andengage the wrist ofthe signaler when sending a signal. Y

2.`The combination with an alarm signalving-box having the usualsignaling apparatus mand an opening in an exterior wall through whichthe hand of the signaler is inserted to send a signal, of a lockingdevice, and mechanism intermediate of the signaling apparatus and saidlocking device for causing the latter to engage the Wrist of thesignaler when the signaling apparatus is actuated to send the signal.

'3. The combination with the lire-alarm box having the usual signalingapparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a verticallymovablelocking-block, means for connecting said locking-block with thesignaling apparatus, which latter on being operated causes saidlocking-block to engage the wrist of the signaler, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination with the fire-alarm box having the usual signalingapparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a verticallymovablelocking-block, a hook havinga tixed position, and being in engagementwith said lockingblock to keep the same elevated, means for connectingsaid hook with a movable part ot' the signaling apparatus, which IOO IIO

latter on being operated causes said locking1 block to engage the wristof the signaler,substantially as set forth.

- 5. The combination with the fire-alarm box having the usual signalingapparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a verticallymovablelocking-block, means for connecting said locking-block with-thesignaling apparatus and springs for causing said lockingblock to engagethe wrist of the signaler when the signaling apparatus is operated,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the fire-alarm box having the usual signalingapparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a buerblock located ator near one edge of said opening, a locking-block located at or near theopposite edge of said opening, means for connecting said locking-blockwith the signaling apparatus, which latter, on being operated causessaid locking-block to move againsty said buffer-block and engage thewrist of the signaler, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the fire-alarm box having the usual signalingapparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a verticallymovablelocking-blockheld elevated above said hand-hole, a buffer-block belowsaid hand-hole, and means for connecting said locking-block with thesignaling apparatus to cause the same to strike the buffer-block andengage the wrist of the signaler when the signaling apparatus isoperated, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with theiire-alarm box, having the usual signalingapparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a verticallymovablelocking-block held normally above said hand-hole and having a recessorcavity in its under face, a buffer-block below said hand-hole, meansforconnecting said lockingblock With the signaling apparatus, whichlatter on being operated will `permit said locksaid hand-hole and havinglateral extensions at its lower end, a lbuffer-block below saidhand-hole,f1neans for connecting said lockingblock-` with the signalingapparatus, which latter on being operated will permit said locking-blockto lower against the buffer-block to engage the wrist of the signaler,and pivoted arms adapted to swing against said lateral extensions of thelocking-block to lock said block in its lowermost position,substantially as set forth. p 4

10. The combination with the fire-alarm box, having the usual signalingapparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a buffer-blocksecuredto said wall beneath said hand-hole, guide-bars also secured tosaid wall, a locking-block held elevated between said wall and theguide-bars and having upwardlyextending guide-rod, a guide-block securedto said wall and in which said guiderods are held, spiral springssurrounding said guide-rods and bearing with their lower ends againstsaid locking-block and with their upper ends against the saidguide-block, a hook pivotally secured to said wall and being engagedwith the locking-block to keep the same elevated against the pressure ofsaid springs,

`a chain or cord passing over pulleys and connecting said hook with amovablepart of the signaling apparatus, whichon being operated willdisengage the hook' from the `lockingblock and cause the same to belowered against said buffer-block by said springs, pivoted arms adaptedto engage said locking-block when lowered to hold the same in suchposition, and springs serving to swing said arms in engagement with said4locking-block, substantially as set forth.

ll. The combination with the fire-alarm box, having the usual signalingapparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a vertically-movable4locking-block Vheld normally above said hand-hole and having a recessor cavity in its under face, a buffer-blockbelow said hand-hole, means4for `connecting said locking-block with the signaling apparatus, whichlatter on being i operated will-permit said locking-block toloweragainst said buffer-block to engage the wrist of the signaler,

`locking mechanism for holding the lockingblock` in itsloWermostposition, and means for releasing the Ylocking mechanism topermit the locking-block to be elevated, substantially as set forth. i

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence 0f two`Witnesses.-

Witnesses:

CEAS. F. BURKHART, M. SENNERT.

JoHN HAMER.

